26 October,2010 09:28 AM IST | | Kaumudi Gurjar
Agency that works to eradicate graft plans to send mass SMSes giving two phone numbers and an email address where people can send complaints
Here's some cause for cheer. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has decided to crack the whip on all those government officials who have no qualms demanding bribes.u00a0
The ACB will send about 15 to 20 lakh people SMSes giving them the contact details of the person to get in touch with if they come across a babu demanding a bribe.
"A similar initiative was taken last year and we received some 15 to 20 complaints after sending the SMSes," said Superintendent of police (ACB), Pune, Vishwas Pandhare. "This year we have included toll free number and an e-mail id in the SMSes sent by us. With this addition we are hopeful of getting more responses from the people."
People in Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur will be contacted through this initiative.
"Last year 77 traps were laid by the ACB and 10 Class I officers and 14 Class II officers were arrested for accepting bribes. This year 55 traps were laid, till date, and six Class I officers and six Class II officers were arrested for accepting bribes," said Pandhare.
The ACB is confident this action will discourage public servants from taking bribe.
"We have noticed that the boards put up in government offices informing people whom to contact if a bribe is demanded are often missing. Within a week, ACB will put up thousands of boards in revenue, police, zilha parishad, health, agriculture, public works department and sub-registrar offices."
The initiative is part of the public awareness week celebrated by the ACB regional office in the city between October 25 and November 1.
